Valparaiso University invites the Northwest Indiana community to celebrate the second annual Communiversity Day on Saturday, Sept. 3 which includes the football home opener against Franklin as well as volleyball’s Marriot Volley Brawl tournament.

Fans are invited to join Valpo students, faculty, staff and alumni for a pregame tailgate barbecue, fun games, family-friendly activities, and a fireworks show following the football game. Festivities begin at 4 p.m.

The football game kicks off at 7 p.m. while the volleyball team faces Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 11:30 a.m. as well as Evansville at 4:30 p.m.

Keeping with Valparaiso University’s commitment to service, the community is invited to “Build a Reading Buddy” to be donated for the “I Need A Hug” program. “I Need A Hug” is a United Way program supported by Valpo’s softball team, which promotes local efforts to encourage elementary children to read.

The day’s schedule:

All Day (five matches) – Marriot Volley Brawl, ARC
• 11:30 a.m. – Valpo volleyball vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
• 4 p.m. - Games, live music and “Build a Reading Buddy”
• 4:30 p.m. – Tailgate barbecue, Valpo volleyball vs. Evansville
• 6:40 p.m. – World record attempt, Brown Field
• 7 p.m. – Valparaiso University football vs. Franklin, Brown Field
• Fireworks to immediately follow football game

Community members can purchase advance game tickets, which cover all of the volleyball matches and the football game, for $5. Tickets for the tailgate buffet-style barbecue can also be purchased in advance at an additional $5. Game tickets purchased on Sept. 3 are $10 for adults. Food tickets purchased on Sept. 3 are an additional $10. Children 10 and under are admitted free to the volleyball and football games and may eat for $5.

A family package, which includes four tickets to both the volleyball and football games and four food tickets, is available in advance for $30. 

Valpo faculty and staff with ID will be admitted free to both games and can purchase food tickets in advance for $5 or on game day for $8. Valpo students also receive free game admission with a valid ID, and food tickets are $5 in advance and on game day. Students can purchase tailgate tickets with their meal card at any dining services cash register.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the Valpo athletics ticket office, located in the Athletics-Recreation Center, by phone at (877) MY-VU-TIX, or online at valpoathletics.com/tickets. Ticket office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Pregame activities will include an attempt to set the Guinness world record for the largest group of people standing from a seated position, which reinforces the event’s theme, “Standing Together.”

To learn more about Communiversity Day activities or to purchase tickets, visit valpo.edu/communiversity or call 877.MY.VU.TIX.